Wire-fence machine



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1-. T. H. Mc'DONALD.

WIRE FENCE MAGHINE.

No. 593,776. Patented Nov. 16, 1897.

9 M A. w 1 m m I 3: 1 H I v m (Nd Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T'. H. McDONALD.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

No. 593,776. Patented Nov. 16,1897.

I IIIIIIIIIIIIHIIHIL \3 1:353; IE1):

I i v P i mindsfllflfaflonald UNITED STATES PATENT OFFicE.

THOMAS H. MCDONALD, OF POTOMAO, MONTANA.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 593,776, dated November16, 1897.

' Application filed ary 18, 1897. Serial No- 6l9,646. (N0 model.) v

To'otll whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. MCDONALD, a citizen of the United States,residing at P0- tomac, in the county of Missoula and State of Montana,have invented a new and useful VVire-Fence Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification. 1

This invention relates to machines for applying pickets to the line orfence wires in the construction of wire-and-picket fencing, and has forits object to provide for the ready adjustment of the wire-twisters, sothat the strands 'of the cables may be twisted about the pickets at anyrequired point in their length; also, to facilitate the passage of thepickets between the strands or companion wires of the cables whenplacing them in position and to combine with the machine adjustablespacers of novel construction whereby the pickets are spaced therequired distance apart throughout the length of the fence.

Other objects and advantages are contemplated and will appear from thesubjoined description as the nature and details of the structuralarrangement are fully understood; and to this end reference is to be hadto the accompanying drawings and the following description, in whichcorresponding and like parts arereferred to and designated. by the samereference-characters.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form,proportion, and the minor details of construction without departing fromthe principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to afull disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of theimproved machine, showing it applied. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of themachine, the near portion of the sprocket or drive chain being omitted.Fig. 3 is a front view of the machine, the near side of the frame beingremoved and the spacers omitted. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on theline X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the lower portion ofthe machine removed for the purpose of reducing its length whenconstructing a fencing comprising short pickets. Fig. 6 is a plansection on the line Y Y of Fig. 5, the picket-guides being omitted. Theframe of the machine comprises similar side plates or pieces 1, whichare connected at their ends and spaced apart by interposedfilling-pieces2. These plates 1 have longitudinal slots 3 and are separable at asuitable point in their length to admit of the size of the machine beingreduced, as shown in Fig. 5, when short pickets are to be securedbetween the strands or companion wires of the fence-runners.Wire-twisters 4 are adjustably secured between the plates 1 opposite theslots 3, and are of usual construction and are mounted in bearings 5,which are secured to the inner faces of the plates 1 by bolts or otherfastenings in such a manner as to admit of their adjustment relative tothe frame, so as to adapt the ma-' chine for long or short pickets or toapply the wires at any required point in the length of the pickets. Thebearings 5 are provided in pairs, and the elements of each pair arelocated in coincident relation, so as to receive the hub portions of awire-twister, and being secured to the plates upon opposite sides of theslot '3 serve to strengthen and brace the frame, as will be readilycomprehended.

A shaft 6 is located at the upper end of the frame and is provided witha crank 7 and pinion 8, the latter meshing with a wiretwister 9 at theupper end of the frame, so as to impart motion thereto. A sprocket-gear10 is formed with or applied to a side of the pinion or spur-gear 8, andthe sprocket or drive chain 11 receives its motion therefrom and passesaround the sprocket portions of the wire-twisters 4, so as to impartmotion thereto.

A gage 12 is adjustably secured to thelower end of the frame andsupports the pickets when the latter are placed in position between thestrands or companion wires prior to being secured between them. cured tothe rear side of the frame immediately above the wire-twisters 4 andconverge at their lower ends, so as to direct the pickets between thestrands or companion wires when placing them in position withoutrequiring Guides 13 are se-.

any especial care on the part of the operator. These guides are formedof plates, which have their opposite edge portions 14 bent about atright angles on oblique lines, whereby the space formed between the bentedges 14 tapers or diminishes toward its lower end, so as to give properdirection to the picket and insure its passing between the wires, whichare subsequently twisted to secure the picket in place.

The picket-spacers 15 are spring-bars provided in pairs and located inthe plane of the guides 13 and have adjustable connection with the frameby passing through slots or openings in the plates thereof in coincidentrelation, said bars having a series of openings 16 in their lengththrough any one of which pins 17 are thrust, so as to secure the spacersin an adjusted position. The rear ends of the bars comprising thespacers are bent inward, as shown at 18, to engage with the pickets, andthence outward at 19 to admit of the pickets passing between them onapplying sufiicient force to advance the machine after a picket has beensecured in place by twisting the wires or strands about it.

Any number of wire-twisters may be employed, according to the number ofcables or fence-runners to be applied to the pickets, and, as shown inFig. 1 and the detail views thereof, three wire-twisters are employed-amiddle, a top, and a bottom twister. In the event of it being requiredto construct a fence having short pickets secured to two cables orfence-runners the lower portion of the machine is removed and laid asideand the gage 12 is detached from the lowerportion and ap- I plied to theupper part, thereby reducing the length of the machine, as indicated inFig. 5. It will be understood that the sprocket or drive chain must beshortened, so as to connect the sprocket-gear 10 with the sprocketportion of the adjacent wire-twister, as will be readily understood.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In afence -machine, the combination with the frame, and the wire-twistingmechanism, of a pair of spring-spacers having adjustable connection withthe frame and havtheir outer or active ends bent inward toward eachother at an inclination to admit of the pickets passing from betweenthem, thence outwardly to engage with the rear edge of the picket lastpassing by them, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a fence-machine, the combination of the frame, a series ofwire-twisters at intervals in the length of the frame, guides locatedabove the wire-twisters and having their directing portions tapering andconverging, and a pair of spring-spacers in the plane of eachpicket-guide, substantially as set forth.

3. A fence-machine comprising a frame formed of sections which aredetachably connected together, wire-twisters applied to the parts of theframe, a gage adapted to be applied to either part of the frameaccordingly as the machine is adapted for long or short pickets, andactuating mechanism for the wire-twisters, substantially as set forth.

4.. In a fence-machine, the combination of a frame, a shaft adapted tohave the power applied thereto and provided with a spur and a sprocketgear, a wire-twister having a toothed portion in mesh with thespur-gear, a second wire-twister having a sprocket portion, and asprocket-chain connecting the aforesaid sprockctgear with the sprocketportion of the last-mentioned wire-twister, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto afliXedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS H. MCDONALD.

\Vitnesses:

H. T. WILKINSON, THOMAS E. EVANS.

